Brandon Flowers has shown he can cover NFL receivers. He is quick to make tackles, knows the AFC West and joins a Chargers secondary that has no cornerback who's an established NFL starter.

It made sense for the Chargers to sign Flowers on the rebound, which Tom Telesco did Tuesday, even if the former Chief is on the downside after 87 starts.

It's a bit worrisome that Dez Bryant and other big receivers chewed up the 5-foot-9 1/2-inch Flowers at times last year.

If Flowers, 28, can still run, however, he can defend numerous other receivers such as Emmanuel Sanders and Wes Welker of the Broncos, Denarius Moore of the Raiders and Donnie Avery, the Chiefs' speedster who twice burned Derek Cox last year.

He's a better tackler than any of San Diego's returning corners. Experienced both in the slot and outside, he can broaden John Pagano's chalk board. He's comfortable at left corner, dovetailing with Shareece Wright's preference to man the right side.

Once the Flowers signing was announced, I had visions of Telesco, hand upraised, thumb and index finger an inch-and-half inch apart. On Draft Day last month, the General Manager responded with that gesture when I asked if he had any concerns that Jason Verrett, his first selection, is only 5-9 1/2. Not since Antoine Winfield went to the Vikings in 1999 had a corner under 5-10 gone in the first round.

Telesco said an extra inch-and-a-half was of little consequence. Verrett, he said, is "explosively quick and fast and tough" and "very, very, instinctive on the football field."

The Super Bowl ring that Telesco owns was obtained in part by quick, tough, shorter players who strengthened the Colts. Eight years later, as the NFL is trending toward taller pass-catchers and therefore taller defenders, Telesco is fishing in the same shallow waters all but abandoned by Chiefs counterpart John Dorsey.

The Chargers could field three corners who are under 5-10, counting Steve Williams, a 5-9 draftee of Telesco's in 2013.

I'd call them the Smurfs but a trio of Redskins receivers claimed that name in the 1980s.

The Smurfs helped Washington win a Super Bowl.

Let's see if Brandon Flowers can still run. If he can, the Chargers are a more capable team and Eddie Royal, keen on this Hokies reunion, will smile from Chargers Park to Qualcomm Stadium.